Fans, Foes and Idly Curious Flock to Bush Rally in Park

Frank Perkins, 64, sat in the shade at the northwest corner of Warner Park in Woodland Hills on Sunday and eyed the crowds as they streamed by his blanket and stack of books to the stage and bleachers in the middle of the park.

The corner was not the usual place Perkins goes every day. That was farther down Califa Street. He had been moved from there earlier in the day by Secret Service agents making arrangements for a noon rally by Vice President George Bush.

Perkins did not much mind moving, though. After all, this was one of Bush’s final rallies in the 48 hours before ballots are cast Tuesday.

For the estimated 10,000 people who attended the rally, one of the largest in Bush’s campaign for the presidency, it was a chance to cheer, a chance to jeer or just a chance to sit back and watch. And there was plenty to watch.

Young Crowd

In marked contrast to Perkins, with his long gold-gray hair, imposing pipe and scruffy plaid shirt, many of those who passed his shady spot were young, upwardly mobile types with babies in strollers, coming to socialize, enjoy the pleasant weather, hear the music, see some stars, and oh yes, cheer on their candidate.

It was a “thirtysomething” day at the park, designer apple pie.

Young families sat together on picnic blankets and listened to the bands and singing groups that preceded Bush’s 20-minute speech. Fresh-faced high school volunteers circulated through the crowd to enlist more volunteers. College students from both parties puffed occasional cigarettes and argued the virtue of their affiliation.

The order of the day apparently was politics, but in all the gee-whiz hoopla not everybody noticed. Sure, spectators cheered and waved flags when their candidate took the stage, but many in the crowd were not die-hard politicos. They were just curious.

“We just wanted to see what people are saying,” said Carmen Delgado, 32, of Van Nuys who stood next to the media bleachers with her husband, Jim, 35.

Bus driver Randy Garcia, 22, of Alhambra slept soundly under a tree at the back of the park as Bush drew cheers from flag-waving supporters. Jackie Stewart, 3, found the contents of her mother’s purse far more enjoyable than the long line of celebrities, including Cesar Romero, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Joan Rivers, who paraded on stage before Bush.

Casual Dress

Except for the few who came to the rally still in their Sunday best, the dress of the day was casual and cool. Sneakers and shorts outnumbered suits and ties, but there were noticeable exceptions. Sam Shapiro and Aron Schwartz, both 18, still were decked out in the tuxedos they wore the night before to their Taft High School formal. “We came straight from the formal to here--no sleep,” Schwartz said as he scanned the crowd for a Bush campaign sign.

Secret Service agents in dark suits ignored the early afternoon heat and sauntered through the crowd. Police stood guard atop buildings and parking structures. From one building hung a banner that read: “Pee-Wee for Pres.”

As the morning mist burned off and hazy sunshine raised temperatures to the upper 70s, lines began to form around the hot dog and soda stands that encircled the crowd.

It was business as usual--better than usual, some admitted--for vendors who hawked everything from food and drink to campaign buttons and patriotic pompons.

Ted Neubauer, 49, of Hollywood used the rally to sell campaign buttons he designed himself. The price: one for $3 or two for $5. He was sold out 45 minutes before the rally began.

Across the street at a weekend arts and crafts fair, Ed Beauchemin, 54, of Hemet sold 400 to 500 containers of fruit juice by the time the rally ended about 1:30 p.m.

Signs of Protest

Ras Rosko, 26, and his companion Erin Hogan, 21, both homeless, walked through the crowd holding handwritten posters with anti-Bush slogans. They were not taken too kindly by Bush supporters. As they walked silently through the crowd, a small cluster of Bush fans shouted: “Hey, you two guys out on furlough? Who you going to rape and murder next?”

Rosko called it the “macho mentality” of Republicans and pointed as he spoke to martial arts expert and actor Chuck Norris, the rally’s emcee.

Confrontations were common as supporters of Democratic opponent Michael Dukakis clashed with Bush supporters. As the Good News Kids broke into a chorus of “This Land Is My Land” on stage, Steve Gomez, 21, of Pico Rivera and Steve Pesce, 28, of Van Nuys debated the virtues of their respective candidates. Eventually, though, the debate degenerated into a chanting match to see which side could outshout the other.

Residents at the apartment complexes that border the park on two sides watched the rally from their patios. Sally Altomare, 58, said she was surprised that no Secret Service agents checked her apartment before the rally began. “I thought they might because we have all these Dukakis-Bentsen signs out,” she said.

Inevitable Trash

Her main concern: the inevitable trash left by the crowd.

Sure enough, as the crowds thinned and people filed to their cars past Perkins, who slept in the shade, they left behind a landscape of patriotic trash. Strands of red, white and blue pompons lay next to crushed campaign signs and empty soda cups. Lt. Joe Garcia of the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Valley Division was not sure who would clean up.

Lt. Garcia said there was little, if any, traffic congestion, in spite of the fact that many people drove to the rally.

Police arrested a man who apparently had concealed a starter’s pistol in his waistband, Lt. Garcia said. The man dropped the gun and ran when spotted by officers, police said. Starter’s pistols cannot fire bullets.

A Secret Service spokesman said that John Arthur Junot, 40, of Los Angeles was in federal custody Sunday night on suspicion of violating a federal law that makes it illegal for anyone to impede the orderly conduct of business under the protection of the Secret Service. He faces a fine of up to $500 or up to six months in jail if he is convicted.